House for sale in Villa Lucca, Lucca - 9 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms

Amongst the monumental villa of Lucca, Villa Mansi is certainly one of the most representative of the culture and society of the rich and ancient Republic of Lucca. The Mansis were already one of the most well-known families of silk merchants in Europe by the beginning of the XVI Century. They worked in close contact with other noble families of Lucca including the Bonvisism the Arnolfinis and the Cenamis. It was from the last family, Ceramis, that the Mansi's bought the Villa in the XVIII Century. The original building was constructed in the second half of XVI Century, while the first phase of modification is dated to the end of the XVII Century. Today the accommodation is spread over five floors, all offering vaulted, frescoed or antique tiled and beamed ceilings. The lower ground floor contains a large original kitchen and large preperation room, still retaining the large original fireplace, a stone basin with a lovely feature spout, storage rooms, several reception rooms. The area has been used to provide a restaurant and the kitchens are catering size and have catering fittings. They require updating. Two large arch doors lead into either side of the building from the terraces. Stairs lead up to the first floor, which has an office, a chapel and several storage rooms, stone stairs decorated with wrought iron ballastrade lead up to the the Piano Nobile. This level is the most spectacular with frescoes in everyroom. There is a central reception room, with doors on each corner. The doors lead into three rooms on each side of the building, originally on each side of the house there was a bedroom and a bathroom (only one bedroom remains today on display). A long hallway with doors lead to the stairs. Secret doors lead up to the 2nd floor for access to the original servants accommodation. Also on this level are beautiful square reception rooms, displaying silk walls, due to the original silk merchants the Masi family. Second floor. This level and the loft area are currently undergoing a government sponsored extensive restoration project, to recreate seven double bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms. Some of the walls still display signs of the original frescoes. The floors are original terracotta and stone.

In the years 1634 and 1635, an architect from Urbino, Muzio Oddi, known, above all, as a skilled engineer of city fortifications, worked to increase the size and the beauty of the villa. The two storied facade with the columned portico is owing to his taste for the mannerism of the Sixteenth Century tradition. The fundamental lines of the structure, even if considerably modified in later periods, are still present as well as the marked two tone aspect of the composite elements. Juvarra was, amongst other things, the most famous designer of the theatrical sets in the first half of the Eighteenth Century in Italy. Amongst the numerous frescoes which decorate the entire Villa, the central salon is certainly the most interesting thanks to the work of Stefano Tofanelli of Lucca, the favourite neoclassical painter of Elisa Baciocchi, princess of Lucca and Etrurian and Napoleon's sister. These two large lateral painting depict the deeds of Apollo and the death of Marsyas. On the ceiling is shown the triumph of Apollo. Villa Mansi due to the elegance, was commonly host to sovereigns and ambassadors coming from the most distant states of the empire, invaded by the Republic of Lucca for a pleasant stay. In our time, the Villa continues to maintain its traditionally high standards of hospitality and the prestige that has always characterised it, being host to important banquets its magnificent rooms. Within the grounds of the estate and included in the sale are a further three buildings, a large double sided building with pillars and beamed ceilings. Total area 1,200 sqm, a large ruin of 800sqm and a small gate house of 100sqm. Description of land With the passage of the ownerships of the Villa into the hands of the noble Mansi family in the XVIII Century a second and more pronounced phase of restoring of the Villa and especially of its gardens was brought about first of all, by the work of the architect Filippo Juvarra and later, by an architect from Lucca, Abate Giusti. The diversity of the works realised in the gardens, rich in prospectives, fountains and plays of water, are owing to the baroque taste of the period and, above all, to the Juvarra's architectural genius with its theatrical stamp. The Italian architectually designed garden remains exactly the same today, with the exception of wonderful mature and ancient trees, which have grown in time to seclude the gardens entirely. Many rare additions of plants and trees have also been added over the past years. There is a huge natural lake for swimming and a smaller shallow circular lake for children.

property reference: PROC999000297

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